Seattle Mariners Rumors: Pitching Staff Set For 2016 MLB Season
Seattle Mariners rumors indicate the pitching staff is set. New Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto may be done adding pieces during the MLB offseason. A report from the Seattle Times indicates that the Mariners signed former Miami Marlins closer Steve Cishek to a two-year contract. The deal includes a lot of incentives, with Cishek in line for a big raise should he become the full-time closer for the Mariners.
Steve Cishek pitched parts of six seasons for the Miami Marlins, posting a 2.82 ERA and 1.22 WHIP over 289 2/3 innings pitched. For two full years he was the closer for the Marlins, but he lost that job during a rough 2015 MLB season. It led to the Marlins trading him to the St. Louis Cardinals. With the Cardinals, he posted a 2.31 ERA and 1.33 WHIP over 23 1/3 innings of work. Cishek was granted free agency in the offseason and now the 29-year-old right-hander has signed with the Mariners.
The two-year deal with Cishek calls for him to make $4 million in 2016 and then $6 million in 2017. He will compete with Joaquin Benoit in spring training to decide which pitcher begins the season as the closer. If Cishek returns to the closing role, he could make as much as $7 million extra through incentives. If that happens, Benoit would slide back into a familiar setup role that he had with the San Diego Padres over a number of years.
Despite many Seattle Mariners rumors still floating around about the team making a trade for another outfielder, the front office is refuting those reports. GM Jerry Dipoto spoke at the end of the Winter Meetings, suggesting that the team is now finished making big moves. A report from MLB.com quotes Dipoto making specific statements about the possibility of any more trades taking place.
“We’ve done a lot of business the last two months. But I like the way our team has shaped up. It’s a more complete and well-rounded team. The mix is good. I don’t see a position on the field that looks like a sinkhole. We’ve built a good, solid group and we’ve raised the floor.”
Dipoto went on to say that it is “highly unlikely” that there are more moves on the immediate horizon. This likely means that the Mariners are done making trades or signing recognizable names unless something changes. It also means that Jesus Montero may get a serious look to make the 25-man roster coming out of spring training. He could serve as the backup first baseman on the roster to spell Adam Lind at times.
If the Seattle Mariners rumors have come to a close this offseason, the bullpen should primarily consist of Joaquin Benoit, Justin De Fratus, Evan Scribner, Anthony Bass, Steve Cishek, and Charlie Furbush. Pitchers that could factor into the final pitching staff also include Vidal Nuno, Tony Zych, and Mike Montgomery. As for the starting rotation, it looks to consist of Felix Hernandez, Wade Miley, Taijuan Walker, Nathan Karns, and James Paxton. Montgomery and Nuno could also get the chance to prove themselves in Arizona this March.
New acquisitions that will likely be on the 25-man roster include catcher Chris Ianetta and outfielders Nori Aoki and Leonys Martin. Luis Sardinas and Steve Clevenger will compete for a backup infielder and backup catching spot on the roster. They join a roster that still has Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager, Nelson Cruz, Ketel Marte, Seth Smith, and Franklin Gutuerrez. There will be a lot of additional Seattle Mariners rumors in spring training, especially with players like relievers Johnathan Aro and Ryne Harper, infielders Chris Taylor and Shawn O’Malley, and catcher Mike Zunino trying to make the final roster.
[Photo by: Rob Foldy/Getty Images]
